Locker latch



LOCKER LATCH Filed NOV` 18. 1925 ./'N VE/v TOR JoH/v B- O CCW/VOR Patented Apr. 19, 1927.

UNITED STATES i 1,625,145 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. OCONNOR, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS, .ASSIGNOB TO LYON METALLIC MANUFAC- TUBING OOMPANY, OF ARORA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

LOCKEB LATCH.

Application filed November 18, 1925. Seal No. 69,768.

My invention relates to lockers and more partlcularly the door locking mechamsm thereof. The invention contemplates especially' that type of locking mechanism in which there isa vertically movable latch and a vertically movable latchlifter for controlling it.' One of the objects of the invention is t0 provide a doorl pull which the operator may grasp for opening and closmg the door, and a latch lifter associated with the door pull and so constructed that it may be manipulated by a mere vertical shift of the hand while the operator is still grasping the door pull. Another object is to provide a vlatch lifter which shall be in the plane of the door pull and surrounded by it for protection. Another object is to provide a latch lifter associated with a. door pull in such manner that the latch lifter may be readily locked against movement by means of a padlock cooperating with the door pull. A further object is to provide simple and effective means for cushioning the actionl of the latch lifter to render thefaction of tlie latch approximately noiseless. Other contributory objects will become apparent as the description proceeds.

I o btam my objectsb'y the mechanism ilf lustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section Y on theline 1-1 Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a view from the inside of the door showing, among other things,-a key operated lock for preventing lifting of the latch. j

Figure 3 is a plan section on the line H Fi e 2.

igure 4is a perspective view of the door pull and latch liften@ v Like numerals denote like parts throughout the several views.

In the form selected to illustrate the invention the door 10 is hinged to the door frame 12 by a hin e 14 Shown in Figure 3.

- The door is provi ed with ilangs 16 at the vertical edges and adjacent to one of them is a latch bar 18. This is vertically slidable and provided with a latch 20 having a notch in the under side adapted to seat over and engage a stationary locking lug 22 to hold the door locked.

The latch bar is provided with two lugs 24 which receive between them a finger 26 formed on a latch controlling lever 28.

` and forms a to assume the locking position shown in Figures 1 and 2. At the inner end the lever has a linger 32 which overlies the bolt 34 of' a key operated lock 36. The result is that when the lever is in the acting position shown in Figure 2 and the bolt is projected e as shown-in said figure, the latch bar will be held down and the door will be held locked.

. The lock 36 in the form shown is of the type called a cabinet lock or rim lock, and while it is advantageous it is in the present case alternative to another form of lock, which will be hereinafter described.

I will now describe the latch lifter and associated parts which go more to the essence of the invention:

Underlying the outer portion of lever 28 is anarm 38 which projects through a slot 40 in the door and when raised lifts the latch bar and releases latch 20 from the lug 22, thus unocking the door. The arm 38 is fastened to a latch. lifter, which includes a vertical portion 42 which lies adjacent to the front of the door, and two horizontal branches 44, 46, which project outward from the plane of the door. These branches vmay be engaged by the lingers of the operator for ralsing and lowering the latch bar.

Fastened to the front of the door in the same plane as the latch lifter is a door pull which has a vertical portion 48. This is fastened to the door by means of legs 50, 52 which in the main are horizontal. The upright portion 48 and the two legs 50, 52 of the door pull form a guard frame for the latch lifter. The door pull is somewhat longer vertically than the distance of the arms 44, from each other, thus affording roomv for vertical movement of the latch lifter. Y

The upper leg 50 is apertured to accommodate a pin 5.4 which projects upward from the upper branch 44 of the latch lifter guide for the latch lifter. The lower leg 52 y1s also apertured to accommodate an extension 56 which projects downward from the latch lifter and has an aperture 58 for receiving the bow 60 of a padlock 62 in the manner best illustrated in Figure 1. Cushions or bumpers 64 are provided on the upper side of the upper branch 44 and the lower side of the lower branch 56 of the latch lifter for absorbing the shock and rendering the operation of the latch lifter approximately noiseless. 4

In operation, the operator in pulling the door open or pushing it shut will gras the vertical portion 38 of -the door pull. n so doing' -his lingers will naturally come between the upper and lower branches 44 and 4G of the latch lifter, with the result that the latch may be lifted by rthe operator shifting his hand upward along the door pull. The latch may be 'either lifted or lowered without requiring the operator to take his hand off the door pull. The result is that the o erator by a simple compound movement of four fingers of his hand can control both the door and the latching mechanism.

When the latch lifter is lowered it may be locked by passing the bow of the padlock G2 through the aperture 58 in the extension 56 beneath the lower leg 52 of the door pull. The same locking effect may be obtained by operating the lock 36 and causing the bolt 34 to project beneath the' finger 32 of lever 28.

It will be evident that my mechanism forms a simple and eiiicient means for moving the door open and shut and at the same time controlling the latching mechanism. It

is unnecessary for the operator to use his thumb, as in some latch lifting mechanisms, and furthermore the latch lifting mechanism lies within the confines of the door pull and hence is protected by it. The latch lifter doesnt have a pivotal movement but a vertically slidable one. The mechanism also affords the operator a choice as to whether he will employ a padlock or a cabinet lock. As a matter of fact both forms may be emploved if desired.

aving thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a locker, a latch, a vertically movable latch lifter, a stationary element projecting from the locker door adjacentio the latch lifter and having an aperture, the lifter having an extension projectible through the aperture in the stationar element and adapted to enfage a locking evice on the opposite side of the stationary element to prevent vertical movement of the lifter.

2. In a locker, a latch, a vertically movable latch lifter, a Guard mounted on the door and encircllng the latch lifter for -protecting it, the latch lifter having a horizontal branch within the guard for contact with the fingers of the operator whereby the latch lifter may be manipulated, the guard having a vertical portion spaced from the door which may be grasped by the operator and thus serve as a door pull and means for locking said lifter from movement relatively to said uard.

3. n a locker, a latch, a door pull mounted on the front of the door and having a vertical portion spaced from the door which may be grasped by the operator, a vertically movable latch lifter having a horizontal branch projecting toward the vertical portion of the door pull and consequently in the path of theY fingers of the operator when moving his hand vertically alongthe vertical portion of the door pull, and means for locking said lifter against movement.

4. In alocker, a latch, a door pull mounted on the door and having a vertical portion spaced from the door which may be grasped by the operator, and a vertically movable latch lifter having two horizontal branches projecting toward the vertical portion of the door pull, whereby the operator may move the latch lifter up or down by sliding his hand along the vertical portion of the door pull.

5. In a locker, a latch, a door pull having a vertical portion and two horizontal legs by which the vertical portion is fastened to the locker door at a distance therefrom, and a verticallyi movable latch lifter located in the plane of the door pull and guided by the legs of the door pull.

6. In a locker, a latch, a door pull having a vertical portion and two horizontal legs by which the vertical portion is fastened to the locker door at a distance therefrom, and a vertically movable latch lifter having two horizontal branches projecting forward from the door in the plane of the door pull, and near'the upper and lower legs of the door pull, the legs of the door pull being apertured and the branches of the latch lifter having extensions projecting upward and downward through the apertures in said legs to be guided thereby.

7. In a locker, a latch, a door pull having a vertical portion and two horizontal legs by which the vertical portion is fastened to the locker door at a distance therefrom, and a vertically movable latch lifter having two horizontal branches projecting from the door in the plane of the door pull, one near the upper and the other near the lower leg of the door pull, one of said branches having an extension projecting through said aperture in one of the legs, said extension also being apertured to receive the bow of a padlock on the opposite side of said leg to lock the latch lifter against vertical movement.

8. In a locker, a latch, a door pull having a vertical portion spaced from the door, which may be grasped by the operator, a leg fastened to the frontof the door and o'rmtically along the vertical portion of the door ing a support for the vertical portion of the pull, and means interposed between the door pull, a vertically movable latch lifter branch and the leg for cushioning'the action 10 having a horizontal branch projecting toof the branch in moving toward the leg.

5 ward the vertical portion ot the door p'ull In witness whereof, I have hereunto suband consequently in the path of the fingers scribed my name. of the operator when moving his hand ver- JOHN B. OCONNOR. 

